Sealing a paver surface does three useful things: it slows staining, it holds the joint sand in place, and on most products it deepens the color. Coastal Brevard is harder on all three than an inland climate, so the interval here runs shorter than the label suggests.
As a working rule, most residential paver surfaces on the Space Coast want re-sealing every two to three years, sooner on a driveway that takes vehicle traffic and full afternoon sun, later on a shaded walkway. The clearest signal is the joints: when sand starts washing out after heavy rain, or weeds and ants begin appearing in the lines, the sealer has stopped holding.
The sealer has to match the material and the location. Around a pool, a high-gloss wet-look film on travertine or smooth porcelain can turn genuinely slippery, so a penetrating, non-glossy sealer is the right call. On a driveway, where grip is less critical and color pop is welcome, a wet-look product is a reasonable choice.
Preparation matters more than the product. The surface has to be washed, organic growth treated rather than just blasted off, joints re-sanded with fresh polymeric sand, and everything allowed to dry properly before sealer goes down. Sealing over damp pavers or over algae locks the problem in and leaves a cloudy finish that has to be stripped.
If your driveway or pool deck looks tired but the field is still flat and the edges are still tight, sealing is almost always the cheapest way to get it back. Cleaning, re-sanding, and sealing is a service we run year-round, and it is worth doing before the surface reaches the point where it needs rebuilding.